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What do you do when your friend (in Ottawa) texts you (in Waterloo) on a Monday, and asks what you’re doing on the weekend? First, you ask her if we’re going to Nashville (that’s a story for another day). When she laughs at you, you ask her what she has in mind, and she asks you if you’d be interested in a Toronto meet-up, you obviously say yes!

Can you remember the last time you travelled and were truly impressed by your accommodations? Not because the lobby was great for selfies or because the monotone décor of your room was slightly more grey than the last place you’ve stayed but because you really felt like you were somewhere special? I personally get giddy in small towns because the hotels are always so charming and often wish that all of my destinations had a similar effect. Luckily for me, Toronto still has one hotel that gets it. Walking down the very busy Yorkville area surrounded by a sea of glass it is impossible to miss the Windsor Arms hotel; a true staple of the Toronto hospitality landscape.

Things I Love About Afternoon Tea:
Getting a little dressed up for the occasion
Sitting around a table laid with beautiful china and cutlery
Eating dainty pastries and delicious scones
Contemplating the correct way to pronounce “scones” (s-KOHNs? s-KAHNs?)
Speaking in hushed tones and feeling very important. Pinkies raised.
Ordering champagne in the middle of the afternoon, to accompany the tea.
Perhaps getting a little tipsy and no longer speaking in hushed tones, but still feeling very important
Eating one too many skahns, and no longer feeling very important, but feeling very full
Feeling very full, while still continuing to finish off those pastries (it’s afternoon TEA, it hardly counts as a meal!)
Shopping Exercise is now necessary – perhaps walking from the tea room to the shops?

With the celebration of Chinese New Year and the Fire Monkey year, we celebrate by sharing this beautiful film. The traditional Tea Ceremony and the traditional red colour symbolizes good fortune and joy. The colour yellow-gold is considered the most beautiful color. The Chinese saying, Yellow generates Yin and Yang, implies that yellow is the center of everything.
Together we all wish you a Happy New Year!